Latch



(No Model.)

V D. M. MURRAY.

LATCH.

No. 348,925. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

Q Q)%GOOQG (ii? N.-PETERS. Phom-uxm nmr. Wnhingtm D. l;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID M. MURRAY, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,925, dated September 7, 1886.

Application filed August 2, 1886. Serial No. 209,807.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID M. MURRAY, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Dayton, in the county of llIontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in latches for gates and doors.

Said improvement consists of a pivotal gravity-latch provided with a slot and affixed to the jamb and engaging a bar or lug attached to a gate or door.

The mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a front view of theimproved latch as attached to an ordinary gate. Fig. II is an enlarged view of the latch in longitudinal section on the line 00, Fig. I. Fig. III is an enlarged view of the catch.

The latch proper consists of but two principal parts the plate O, with rearwardly-ey tending bosses for the pivot F, and the gravity-catch E, wish slot 9 to embrace the said pivot and slot 71 to engage the bar or lug of a gate or door. Said catch has three projections. The top one serves as a counter-weight and arrests the forward movement by striking the plate when the catch is turned in ahorizontal position, the forward oncafingercatch that likewise arrests the backward 1novement,and the lower one to engage the lug or bar in closing the door or gate, so that said catch may 40 fall over said bar or lug, as shownin theillustration, Fig. II.

The bar D, Fig. I, is attached to the gate,

(No model.)

and when thelatch falls over the same the slot embraces it and the fastening is complete. In

case of an iron door,as astovcdoor, instead of 5 the bar, alng would be an integral part of the door.

The dotted lines E, Fig. 2, show the posh tion when the latch is disengaged. As the gate is being closed,the same engages the lower proj ection,thereby partially rotatin the catch on its pivot, so that as the same descends by its gravity the notch embraces the bar. To release the bar and consequently the gate, itis only necessary to raise the catch and rotate it one-fourth of" a circle, in which position it will remain until it is partially rotated by the movement of the gate,when the fastening is completed, as before described.

In the drawings, B are the posts supported on a base, and A is the gate, these parts being only useful to exhibit the practical application of the device.

The bar or lug I) may have its outer edge beveled, as shown in Fig. II, and thus cause the door to close tightly.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

In a latch for gates or doors, the slatted plate 0, with bosses to support a pivot-,and the graw ity-catch It, having three projections, a central slot, g, to embrace the said pivot, the en gaging-slot 71 with the closing projection contiguous to said slot, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID M. MURRAY.

\Vitnesscs:

I3. PICKERING, O. O. WALTMIRE. 

